PRS for Music, the organisation that collects and pays royalties to its 75,000 song-writing and composing members, has announced an ambitious project to raise vital funds to help young people across the UK fight cancer.

Called 'The Art of the Song', the project has asked some of the UK's best songwriters and composers to donate lyrics from their greatest hits to be auctioned off at Bonhams in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

Sir Paul McCartney, Paul Weller, Jim Kerr, Sir Tim Rice, Neil Tennant and Annie Lennox are just some of the famous songwriters that have penned original lyrics from their most famous hits exclusively for the campaign. As well as raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust the project hopes to create a lasting legacy of the music and song lyrics of our generation.

Those keen to purchase the pieces will have the chance to bid on lyrics including Sting's - Message in a Bottle, Duran Duran's - Girls on Film and Sir Tim Rice's - 'Don't Cry for me Argentina'. Chris Rea has donated his original lyrics written for 'Road to Hell' famously penned on the M25.

Teenage Cancer Trust funds specialist teenage cancer units in NHS hospitals that are designed to give teenagers the very best chance of a positive outcome. There are currently 17 of these units across the country, including three in Yorkshire. The charity plans to build a further 16 so that all young people needing hospital treatment for cancer across the UK have access to the dedicated, specialist support they provide.

Teenage Cancer Trust has a strong music heritage. The charity's annual concerts have become one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the British music calendar. Now into their tenth year, the concerts were the brainchild of Teenage Cancer Trust Patron and The Who frontman Roger Daltrey CBE. Each year, the shows have featured some of the world's biggest bands and artists.

The auction will take place at Bonhams Knightsbridge on December 15th 2010 with items available to view from the PRS for Music site www.prsformusic.com/artofthesong.

For further information on the auction or to register interest please visit www.bonhams.com/entertainment

Those with pieces in the auction are:

Sir Paul McCartney - Why don't we do it in the road'
Brian May - We Will Rock You
Rod Temperton - Thriller
The Stranglers - Something Better Change
Sting - Message in a Bottle
Simple Minds - Jim Kerr - Alive & Kicking
Sir Tim Rice - Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Barry Mason - Delilah
Duran Duran - Girls on Film
Doug Flett - Fallen Angel (from the Jersey Boys)
Status Quo - Down Down & Rain
Julian Lennon - Saltwater
Gary Barlow - Back for Good
Jethro Tull -Ian Anderson - Locomotive Breath
Pet Shop Boys - Neil Tennant - various
Don Black - Born Free / Diamonds are Forever
The Cure - Robert Smith - Plainsong
Chris Rea - Road to Hell
Annie Lennox - Sweet Dreams
Craig David - Walking Away
Graham Gouldman from 10cc's - I'm Not In Love
Paul Weller - Andromeda
Mark Knopfler - Get Lucky
Stephen Warbeck - Shakespeare in Love
Eric Clapton - Back to Your Side
Jeff Christie - Yellow River